Summary
The lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) has been studied with the light and electron microscope after midbrain lesions in kittens of different ages, and in adult cats. It has been shown that nerve cells remain within the contralateral LCN after hemisection of the midbrain. performed on 1 day old kittens. The estimated number of these remaining cells was 3–19% in the different cases. No fibers descending to the LCN from levels rostral to the midbrain could be demonstrated in adult cats with the Nauta technique. A combined Nauta and electron microscopical investigation was performed on kittens operated on at different ages and allowed to survive varying times postoperatively. At the operations the LCN-axons were transected at midbrain level. The Nauta investigation demonstrated silver impregnation of degenerating LCN-neurons on the affected side of the same type as has been described recently in other neuronal systems following axonal transection. The ultrastructural study revealed electron dense degenerating dendrites and probably also nerve cells within the LCN. The dense degenerative changes were very similar to the dense degeneration in terminal boutons following transection of parent axons. The potential value of the findings for electron microscopical research in neuroanatomy is discussed. The results in terms of connections of the LCN are discussed in the light of known anatomical and physiological data of the LCN.
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Grant, G., Westman, J. The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat IV. A light and electron microscopical study after midbrain lesions with demonstration of indirect wallerian degeneration at the ultra-structural level. Exp Brain Res 7, 51–67 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236107